Clutch mechanism



April 14, 1925.

D. NOBLE CLUTCH MECHANISM Fied Nov. 6, 1919 INVENTOR DONALD NDELE.

FRIA- ATTORNEY Patented i4, 925,

PATENT QFFICE.

DONALD NOBLE, F BRIDGE-FORT, CGll'-TECTlCUT, AESIGNOR TO THE SING-ER MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, it COROBATON CIF NEW' JERSEY,

onnrcn Meenemen".

Application filed November 5, 1919. Serial No. 335,983.

To all @cf/7mm z5 'may concern Be it known that l, Bernini) Nomix, a subject of the King of Great Tiritain, residing Bridgeport, in the enmity of Fairfield 5 and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Clutch Mechanisms, of which the following is a specication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.v

ln the use lof clutches of the type where mating positive clutchelements carried by the drive and driven shafts arc relatively moved to and from clutching engagement to clutch the drive and driven shaft in a defin- 15 ite angular relationship, trouble has been experienced at high speeds in properly engaging elements when their relative motion towards each other is initiated very shortly 4prior Ato the shafts assuming their angular driving relation. rif his trouble has been pareularly frequent` in clutch mechanisms of iat type comprising a pin movable axially of the driven shaft and engaging a perforation in a collar carried by the drive shaft, a late movement of the pin toward the collar causing the. edge ofthe perforation to engage .the end of the pin, resulting often in the-chipping or breaking` of one or both parts.

it has been found in practice that if the pin does not startits move-nient toward the collar while the perforation is at a substantialangular distance from its line of movement defective clutching, as above described, is likely tooccur.

rl'his .invention` provides means for preventing defective clutching by making it impossible for the4 movableV clutch element to start toward clutching position at too short 4o a time before the angular drive relation of the drive and driven shafts is assumed, while permitting such action when sufiicient time to secnreproper clutching engagement isavailable. i A

To further add to the certainty of action of the clutch, this invention also provides means whereby the shock of sudden starting of the driven mechanism, which in the usual pinfandsperforation construction is exerted directly on the pin, is largely absorbed by cushioning springs. p l

in the. accompanying drawings, the presont improvement is shown embodied in the .perforating machine forming the subject of my Patent No. 1,3769?, dated May 3, 1921.

Fig. l represents a fragmentary elevation of a portion of the actuating n'lechanisin of the punching machine of said patent show ing the invention applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective` with parts h 'oke away;

partly in Section of a l of the machine trame having a boss B thereon, in which is journaled adrive shaft 1 carrying thereon external of the frame A suitable drive pulleys. 1Within the frame A shaft 1 carries thereon a cam disc 2. Mounted within the frame and in alignment with shaft 1, is a driven shaft-3 carrying adjacentl the.` cam 2 a disc l and an eccentric 5, the eccentric 5 being for the purpose of driving certain machine mechanisms not material to this invention. Slidably carried on shaft. 8, but fixed to rotate therewith, is a sleeve G, having an enlarged collar portion 7 at one end thereof and carrying a clutch pin S in the face thereof adjacent the collar 4. Collar 7 is formed as a. stop cam having a stop lug arranged when sleeve (i is in one position to Contact with a stop 7 carried by the machine' frame to stop the rotation of sleeve 6 and shaft 3 in a. definite angular position. Pin 8 projects through guiding perforations in the disc l and eccentric 5, and at suitable times may engage in a` perforation 9 in thc cam disc 2 t-o clutch the Vshafts 1 and 3 for simultaneous rotation, the perforation 9 havingY an inclined guideway 10 leading thereto to insure the proper seating of the piu 8 therein.

rlhe sleeve 6 is provided with a cani groove l1 therein to cooperate with a cani follower carried by the upper end of a lever 12 joui naled at 1,3 to a lined portion of the frame A, the lower end of lever 12 engaging at certain times a latch pin 14; slidably mounted in the machine frame to be moved into and out of the path of the lever 12. An arm by which this pin may be retracted is hereinV shown, and a spring (not shown) may be utilized, as represented in my said patent, to normally hold latch pin 14 at its upper limit of motion projecting within the path of the lever 12. A second lever 16 is Vinto and out of action.

spring 21 and the lever 12, stop 14 and camv 11 constitute automatic means under the control of the operator for throwing the clutch VThat is, the spring 21 acts automatically to shift the driven clutch element 8 into engagement with the driving clutch element when the stop-pin 14 is drawn downwardly by the operator. The cam 11 .and lever 12 act automaticallyv to shift the driven clutch element away from the driving clutch element when the stop 14 Uil is projected upwardly by the operator so as to engage the lever 12.

Carried'by brackets 22 and on the outer face of the casing A, is a rock shaft 23 having forwardly extending stop and follower arms 24, 25, projecting through the casing and with the end ofthe arin 25 normally in contact with the cani disc 2. its shown in F ig. 4, rock shaft 23` is mounted between the brackets 22'and 22a by meansV ofthreaded pintle pins suoli as shown at 26 passing through brackets 22, 22, and having conical bearing faces such as2i engaging within conical recesses 28 in the ends of the rock shaft 23.

Rock shaft 23 has a depending arm 30,

and a coil spring 31 bears betweenthe lower end of arm and the casing A tending to hold the rock shaft 23 in position Vwiththe arm 25 bearing against the cainadisc2.

- The cami disc 2 is so proportioned and positioned that the'arm 25 is in lower position with stop arm 24 in the path of end 20 of lever 16 when the perforation 9 is closely approaching alignment with the pin 8, and is aised by cani disc 2 to raise arm 24 when the perforation 9 has passed alignment with the pin 8 andheld raised until the pin 8 again approaches within a certain angular distance of alignment with said perforation. As shown, the -portion 20 is formed with a bevel, the amount of which is exaggerated in Fig. l to more clearly illustrate its action. Thusy thel stop 24 is periodically moved into effective position by the cam-disk 2 to prevent release of the collar 7 and clutch-pin 8.

The drive pulleys are mounted on the shaft 1 in the following manner. rlie hand wheel 32 loose on shaft 1 is formed with an integral sleeve portion 33 (see l), and is also provided with a belt pulley portion 34 onV the side adjacent the sleeve A loose pulley 35 is journaled on the sleeve33, and a pulley 36 is made fast byV afpin or screw 37 to the sleeve 33 beyond the loose pulley lt is intended that two belts traveling at different speeds shall le used together, these belts resting in adjacent pulley grooves, whereby one will engage one of the iixed pulleys 34 or 36, while the other will engage the loose pulley 35, a double belt shifter (not shown) being employed to shift the belts simultaneously, by which means the speed of the drive shaft 1 may be varied. The outer end of shaft- 1 is cut away forming a substantially rectangularv boss 38. Y Adjacent the face of pulley 36 a plate 39 is litted over the boss 38, whereby it is held fromrotatien relative to shaft 1. Studs 40, 40 are rotatably held within the pulley 36 as Vshown in Figs. 5 and 6, their outer ends being perforated for the reception of guide rods 41, 41a, tern'iinating at one end in abutments 42, 42 bearing iii mating seats in the plate 39. Plate 3) is allowed a limited roi tary nioven'ient independent of the pulley 3G by means of the screws 43, 43a fast in pulley 36 and engaging in curved slots 44,4 lEL in plate Coil springs 45, 45n surroundingthe rods 4l and 41a bear at one end against the abutinents 42, 42n and at the other end against the pins 40, 40". whereby therplate 39 is yieldingly held at one limit of its niotion relative to the pulley 3G, this limit being such that the rotation of pulley 36in its driving direction will allow a limited forward movement thereof compressing the springs 45, 45n before a positive connection with the plate 39 and consequently with the shaft 1 is elfected. Y Y

The operation of this mechanism is as "ollows: Motion is imparted to the shaft 1 by means of either one of the lined pulleys 34j or 36, acting throughgthe springs 45, 45, and at certain times also through the pins 43, and plate 3S) through boss 38. This causes a rotation of the cam 2, which normally imparts an up-and-down motion to the arm to rock the shaft. 23 andV impart a similar Y up-and-down motion to the arm 24. llvlhen the shaft 3 is in unclutching position the.V

parts are as shown in Fig. 1; in the angular relation of the parts there shown, pin 8 being in alignmentfwitli the perforation 9 and the Vstop lug on collar 7 iii contact with stop 7.

At this time, arm 25 is in its lowered position, arm 24 also being in its lowered position adjacent the end 2O of the lever 15, thus preventing lever 16 from rocking movement about its pivot 17 in a. Vdirection to allow the sleeve 6 to approach the cam 2 to edeet ration 9 clutching' engagement of pin S in the perfoto clutch the shafts. 'Upon further rotation of shaft l relative to shaft 3 the high portion of cani 2 comes in contact with movement of the forward edoe of iortion 20.

Athe shaft 3, and brings collar r lf now the. pin la be retracted out of contact withthe lower end of lever l2, springl 2]A acting' against the sleeve 6 moves it toward the cam 2 so that on subsequent alignment of the pin 8 and perforation 9 the pin will be free to be projected therein to clutch the shafts l and 8 at the saine time moving the stop lug on collar 7 out of contact with the stop T to release shaft 3 for rotation. Movement of the sleeve G into clutching position also brings the beveled portion 2O under the arm 2li serving to i'aise this arm slightly, thereby raising' arm 25 slightly out of contact with the cam 2, this act-ion, (shown e):- j. ei'ated in F 3, cam 2 vand sleeve 6 being' shown somewhat di agraiiiniaticallv) serving' to eliminate noise and wear due to the high portion of the eaincontacting at each revolution 'ith the arm 25.

Rotation of the shaft 3 also rotates the sleeve 6.

On projection of the pin 14 in the path of lever l2, lever l2 is prevented from oseilla tion` whereupon the follower on lever l2 acting in the cani groove ll, i'etracts pin S from engagement with perforation S to unclutch in alignment with stop 7 which engages the stop lug` to stop shaft 3 in a definite angular position. This action removes the portion 2O of Vthe lever 19 from beneath the arm 2i and spring 3l thereupon brings the arm 25 into contact with the cani 2, which now acts during' a port-ion of each revolution of shaft l just prior tothe perforation 9 coming' into alignnient with pin S to prevent initial motion (il)A of the sleeve 6 toward clutching position as above described.

Fromthe above. it is seen that if the clutching' of the shafts and l is attempted at the time when the perforation 9 is closely ap- ;iroaching alignment with the pin S, the clutching` is not effected until the next following' revolution. the sleeve 6 being` then released sufficienti;7 before the perforation il againi'eaches alignment with pin 8 to insure the proper engagement of the pin with in the perforation. At the saine time springs 45 and 45 serve to cushion the pin S from Y the shock of starting' the mechanism driven b v the shaft 3, allowing the shaft l to vield momentarily and then start together with 'Y shaft l the pin-and-slot connection between vthe plate V39 and the fixed pulleys insuring' a positive connection to the shaft l after a limited relative angular rotation.

Having' thus described one embodiment ol whereby the cani groove ll serves' `to oscillate the lever 12 at each revolution.

this invention, though it is evident that many changes may be made therein without departing' from the scope or spirit thereof, what is claimed is,-

l. ln combination, driving and driven shafts, a clutch connection between said shafts, automatic means under the control of the operator for throwing said clutch either into or out of action at will, and automatic means. independent of said lirst mentioned means and including a timing' element ou said driving' shaft and connections for timing the throwing' in of the clutch. I

2. A clutch mechanism comprising. in combination, a drive shaft, a driven shaft. mating clutch elements carried bj' the respective shafts and relatively movable into and out of clutching' engagement. manuallv controlled clutch*operating` means connected to one of said clutch elements` and automat-ie means for timing' the clutching engagement of the clutch elements. said automatic means being' actuated b v the drive shaft and connected to control one of said clutch elements indcpendentljlv of said manuallv controlled means.

S. A clutch mechanism comprising', in combination, a drive shaft. a driven shaft` mating' clutch elements carried bj' the rew spot-tive shafts and adapted to couple the latter in a 1predcterniined angular relation. means tending' lio operate one of said clutch elements to carrv it into driving' relation with the other clutch clement, a inanuallv controlled stop and connections for preventing` movement of the clutch element under loo the influence of said means. and an autol matic stop for timing' the release ot said last-mentioned clutch element, said automatic stop being' connected to control said one of said clutch elements independently of said manually controlled stop.

il. A. clutch mechanism comprising', in combination, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, a clutch element lined to one of said shafts, a second clutch element slidablc on the other of said shafts and having a throw-out. cani associated therewith7 a. cani-follower in engagement with said cam. a manually operated stop adapted to be engaged by said follower. and an automatic stop operating independentlyY of said cani and camfollower Y -to periodically hold and release-said second llO 'lil

collar, a spring .urging saidsecond collar toward said lfirst collar, a manually operated stop and connections vfor preventing the operation of said spring,and automatic stop movable periodical-l;T into effective position and connected to control said second collar independently of said manually operated stopand connections, whereby to prevent the complete release of said second collar `until said collars bear a predetermined angular relationship to one another favorable to their proper engagement with one another.

6. clutch mechanism comprising, in combination, a drive shaft, a driven shaft in alignment with said drive shaft, aclntch element fixed on said drive shaft, a second clutch element slidably mounted on said driven shaft and movable into and out of engagement with said first -clntch element, aspring tending to move and hold said clutch elements in clutching position, means for sliding said second clutch element ont of clutching position, a stop operating independentlyof said means yto prevent the initiation of movement of said second clutch element into clutching position, and means for moving and holding said stop out of retaining-position during a portion-of each revolu-r tion of said drive shaft.l

` 7. A clutch mechanism comprising, in combination, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, a clutch element fixe-d to one ofv said shafts, a clutch element slidable on the other of said shafts into and ont of clutching engagement With said fixed clutch element and having a cam groove therein, a lever pivoted at a fixed point and carrying on one arm a follower engaging said .cam groove whereby ases saidlever is oscillated by the rotation of said movable clutch element when in clutching position7 means actnable `to hold said lever from oscillation whereby said movable clutch element is moved ont of clutching position by Vsaid cam groove and follower, a second 'lever pivoted at a fixed point and engaging said movable clutch element to be swung on movement thereof i-nto and out of clutch position, a stop engaging the end or said second lever to prevent initiation of movement of said vclutching element into clutching position, and means actingduring a portion of each revolution of said ldrive shaft for retracting said stop out of the path of said second lever.

8. A clutch mechanism comprising, in combination, a drive shaft, a driven shaft, a clutch element fixed to said Vdrive shaft, a clutch element slidable on said driven shaft into and out of clutching engagement With said iixedclntch element, a lever pivoted at a fixed point and engaging said slidable ele-- mentto be sivnng by a sliding thereof, a roc-li shaft, an arm carried by said rock shaft and having its free end arranged to project in thepath of said lever to prevent initiation of sliding movement of saitslidable element into clutching position, a second arm fixed to said rock shaft, and a cam on said drive shaft acting-on said second arm to rock said rock shaft to move and hold said first arm ont of the path of said lever during` a portion of each revolution of said drive shaft.

ln testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

' DONALD NOBLE. 

